August 2nd, 2008 Administrator
Britain’s drivers are opposed to the introduction of metric road signs, a poll has shown.
Around two-thirds of 18,500 AA members said they did not want distances to be shown in kilometres. About the same number also said they did not want speed limits to be measured metrically. Greatest hostility to metrication came from drivers in Yorkshire and Humberside. Young motorists also proved most resistant to suggestions that speed and distance should be measured in kilometers, wth 83 per cent of those polled in the 18-24 age group, saying they would oppose such a change.
Despite petrol and diesel now being sold in litres, more motorists wanted fuel to be distributed in gallons. While 34 per cent said they now accepted metric measurements on fuel pumps, 37 per cent called for the restoration of the gallon.
“Not only would going fully metric cost a fortune to implement in Britain it would also not go down well with a majority of the motoring public,” said Edmund King, president of the AA. “As a result of keeping an eye on increasing prices, motorists now seem to understand the fuel price in litres. It does seem odd that we buy our fuel in litres but think about fuel efficiency in miles per gallon. We appear to be an imperial-metric nation.”
But with foreign drivers entering the UK a year, he sounded a note of caution. However, when it comes to the safety of UK drivers and travellers we have to remember that with more than one million metric-minded drivers coming into UK each year many would benefit from having the metric measurements put up alongside our yards, miles, feet and inches, especially those driving large lorries under bridges.”
From : Telegraph website
Posted in Driving, Road Safety | No Comments »
July 31st, 2008 Administrator
Txt-Drive asked a former pupil to give us some information regarding his car insurance as a ‘real life’ case study.
Dan learnt to drive in Bedford with the driving school Txt-Drive. He recently passed his driving test in Bedford (passed his driving test at the Bedford Test Centre on his first attempt, gaining only got 2 minor faults).
Before Dan passed his driving test, he started to look for car insurance. After numerous phone calls and hours online searching for the best quote, Dan found Direct Line was cheapest at £1450.
Shortly after passing his driving test in Bedford, Dan booked the Pass Plus course with Txt-Drive. Having completed the Pass Plus course, Dan’s insurance was discounted by 28% to just £1050, giving him a saving of £400!!!
The Pass Plus course is a driver training scheme for new drivers. It has been specially designed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), with the help of insurers and the driving instruction industry. Only registered driving instructors, such as Txt-Drive, can offer the Pass Plus course.
Posted in Driving, Pass Plus | No Comments »
July 31st, 2008 Administrator
Spain will lower its speed limit outside major cities as part of a string of measures unveiled by the government Tuesday aimed at slashing its oil imports by 10 percent per year.
“Every time we lift our feet off the accelerator, we are improving GDP and employment,” Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian told parliament as he outlined the 31 measures. “The era of cheap energy has passed.” The speed limit will be reduced by 20 percent in line with rules already in place in Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city, where it is set at 80 kilometres (50 miles) an hour.
Greater use of energy-saving light bulbs, reduced lighting on roads and restrictions on the use of air-conditioning in summer and heating systems in winter in public buildings are among the other government measures. The plan for 2008-14 has a budget of 245 million euros (385 million dollars) and the government hopes it will reduce annual oil consumption by 44 million barrels. The government will distribute 49 million energy-saving light bulbs — two for each household — to encourage their use and will require all government vehicles to meet at least 20 percent of their energy needs through biofuels. It will also launch a pilot project for the manufacture of one million electric or hybrid vehicles.
Fossil fuels currently meet 84 percent of Spain’s energy needs and the rising price of oil has led to inflationary pressures and caused the country’s trade deficit to balloon.
From : Yahoo
Could this be the future for Bedford or the entire country? With a new Eco-Safe driving section on the driving test from September 2008, who knows?
Posted in Driving | No Comments »
July 30th, 2008 Administrator
A sportscar that folds in half to allow drivers to park on cramped city streets has been invented by a British designer.
The BRB Evolution jacks up on its nose with its back wheels sliding underneath on two rollers, allowing it to use 50 per cent less parking space. Motorists would have to step out of the car before it morphs into its “upright” parking pose, which has been compared to that of a Dyson vacuum cleaner.
The car will run on electricity or hydrogen fuel, but 22-year-old designer Daniel Bailey hopes it will be more “sexy, sleek and mean” than other eco-cars. It is inspired by the Lamborghini Murcielago and Peugeot 908. “I figured two of the main problems of future cities would be pollution and over population,” he said. “With more vehicles needing more places to be stored, I came up with the concept of a folding car. The car folds up to 50% of its original size, and uses the negative vertical space, usually disregarded. This potentially doubles the amount of parking spaces.”
Mr Bailey has submitted his concept to Peugeot as part of a design competition.
From : Telegraph website
This seems like the perfect answer for people who finding parallel parking rather tricky – especially in cities where spaces are very limited. Unfortunately Txt-Drive doesn’t use the ‘BRB Evolution’ – we only use a BMW Mini for driving lessons……they’re small and easy to parallel park!!
Parallel parking is covered in your Txt-Drive driving lessons and you may be required to parallel park on your driving test.
Posted in Driving | No Comments »
July 29th, 2008 Administrator
The rising cost of fuel has led to police officers in Devon and Cornwall being taught how to drive more economically in a bid to save money.
The force said its “green agenda” would help to save fuel for front-line operational duties. Car-share schemes, the use of bikes and video conferencing technology are also being encouraged. The overall number of vehicles is being reduced, with more fuel-efficient diesel models replacing old cars.
Sgt Chris Crebo, who runs the driver training unit, said: “As a force we cover 21 million miles a year, so the cost of fuel is a big issue. “We are emphasising to officers how best to economically run the cars such as efficient gear changes, regular services etcetera. “A lot of it is common sense but the cost of fuel is a real issue and we need to make savings where we can.” Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in Plymouth are being taken to their beats by a single driver and the use of bicycles has also increased.
£2m fuel bill
Martin Davis, head of transport with the Devon and Cornwall force said: “Fuel costs are obviously rising dramatically so we are having to absorb that increase because we only have limited funding. “The last thing we can afford to do is affect front-line policing.” Last year the force spent £2m on fuel and the cost is expected to rise to £2.5m this year.
From : BBC website
Posted in Driving | Comments Off
